Wilson's Story

Tell me about your first memory?
One day, when I was about 4, I got a flower seed, about the size of a bead, and I put it in my ear. It remained there until my cousin told my mother and she came to removed it.

Tell me about your family and early childhood?
There were 3 sisters and one brother. They all lived together at my great – grandfather’s house. These were my 2 Aunties, my mother and my uncle. Their parents, my grandparents, hand passed away some time ago, I am not sure how.

I am the only child of my mother. All four of the siblings passed away in the course of one year when I was about 7. My mother was the last to pass away. She had suddenly become sick and then shortly later she died. My father was never involved and I hear that he still lives in the capital city of Zambia called Lusaka . I only met my father a couple of times before my mother died. My mother and I had moved away for a little while, but when she passed away I returned to Ndola , my home city and stayed with my great - grandparents.

I have 5 cousins. When I returned to my great – grandparents home they were already living there as well. When I arrived, I was not able to go school for about a year. Then I started attending a small school, started as a community project through the church we were attending. It was far away and I would walk for an hour to get there. It was my first time going to school and I was excited. My cousin Patricia and I attended together and we were one of the first to arrive. I attended there for about 1 and half years. The education level was not high in the school. Classes were small and held in the church hall.

We were all happy together, but food was scarce not like now. Sometimes there was no food at meal times and I was often very hungry. My Great – grandparents are elderly and did not have a way to gain an income. My great grandmother likes to bake. I call her grandma and in our local language of Bemba. It is said ba mbuya which is pronounces as ( bva – mboo’ ya). When there where ingredients, she would makes things and bake them in a old – fashioned wood burning stove. The chimney leading outside has holes in it so the kitchen would fill with smoke. It would make my eyes sting. One time in rainy season (Nov – april) the chimney top was covered to keep the heavy rains out. When my Great grandmother started baking the house was filled with smoke and it made my cousins and me pass out.

Tell me about life in the Mercy Touch Home?
Because of the food situation my cousin Patricia and I were identified as candidates for a newly opened children’s home called Mercy Touch. In Oct of 2003, the hottest month in Zambia , we were told that we would be picked up and taken to a new home. When the day arrived my great grandfather told us to prepare our things. We were picked up by a Canadian volunteer and taken to our new home. When we arrived we found 3 new brothers and sisters. 2 boys and 1 girl.

I was shocked to discover that I had my own bed and that we only slept 4 to a room. Also the amount and type of food was very different. Quickly I was enrolled in a very good private school. I love going to school and was very excited to begin learning.

I have been living in Mercy Touch homes for the last 6 years. I am about 15. (I am not exactly sure of my birthday as my birth certificate was lost before my mother died. We have estimated how old I am and celebrate on March 6^th) I currently live in the boys house with 9 other brothers. I still love going to school, and get good grades. We start our new school year in January, so this month I will begin grade 9. This year is an important year as it is an examination year. How well I do on my grades will determine what high school I am able to attend.

I have taken after my grandmother and like to bake. Sometimes I even invent new recipes. I used to enjoy playing football (soccer), but slowly my interest is going. I am starting to become interested in Basketball and am thinking about beginning to play now that I am growing very tall. I am about 5’ 5’’ and have grown about 3’’ in the last year.

I think Mercy Touch is a blessing to me. I am thankful for a good education, a caring environment, and being trained in practical and spiritual truths. I realize that I have been given a good opportunity to learn and grow. I want to use this opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming a jet pilot and carrying people to distant places.